It is an all-too-common sight in Central Florida. A lengthy line of cars snaked through a parking lot, waiting for a free food giveaway to begin. The cars often line up hours ahead of the distribution time. Each vehicle represents one, sometimes two, families trying to stave off expenses.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida partners with local food pantries to host mobile distributions. Two to three times a day, a semi-truck is filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, bread, dairy and essential nonperishable foods and driven to a food desert, rural community or area with high food insecurity. Volunteers help load free groceries into the vehicles for hundreds of families in a few short hours.
See how one mobile food distribution in Osceola County is helping families facing hunger.
“We serve a lot of homeless families and the families that live in the motels, especially single moms with children,” explains Doreen, founder of Clarita’s House Outreach Ministry, one of Second Harvest’s 625 feeding partners. She and her team work to ensure low-income families have the food and resources they need.
Her team sets up an outdoor market twice a month in the parking lot between two motels along Highway 192 in Kissimmee. At a recent event, families received fresh squash, apples, watermelon, frozen chicken, cereal, raisins and an assortment of nonperishable food.
“The fresh produce and meat are what I’m really excited about with Second Harvest,” says Doreen. Fruits, vegetables and meat are often unavailable at convenience stores and local markets. More nutritious foods are often off the table for families with limited income due to soaring prices.
“Everything at the supermarket is expensive,” explains Elizabeth. She waits in line for food, knowing how much the free groceries will help their budget. “Right now, my husband has no work.”
Doreen hears stories like Elizabeth’s daily. She hears from neighbors facing eviction, having their electricity disconnected or their phone turned off. She knows that every box of food placed into a car, strapped to a trailer, or rolled off in a cart is another bill someone can pay without facing hunger.
“It warms my heart to know that we help,” says Doreen.
Your support makes it possible to continue delivering food and hope to families facing hunger. Every dollar can provide four meals to kids, families and seniors in Central Florida.
